The European Commission has approved funding worth euro 1 million for civilians from Chechnya as a response to the escalating conflict there. The aid, channelled via the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO), is earmarked for the International Committee of the Red Cross. This funding comes on top of euro 1.2 million already made available mainly for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Funding allocated so far thus totals euro 2.2 million. The Commission is following the situation closely and plans to make available more funding as needed.